Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue coming to Lee’s Summit

Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue plans an early spring 2015 opening in SummitWoods Crossing in Lee’s Summit. The Overland Park-based company will build its first “ground-up” location, a 9,500-square-foot restaurant that will feature an open exhibition kitchen, full-service bar and patio.

Ribs cook on a smoker carousel at Fiorella’s Freight House location.
David EulittThe Kansas City Star

The Overland Park-based company will build its first “ground-up” location, a 9,500-square-foot restaurant that is scheduled to open in early spring 2015 in the center at U.S. 50 and Interstate 470. It will feature an open exhibition kitchen, full-service bar and patio.

“We love the Lee’s Summit area and we know we have a lot of regulars in eastern Jackson County,” said Case Dorman, president and chief executive officer of the company.

Officials with SummitWoods Crossing, an 87-acre development of “big box” tenants, along with other retail, entertainment and dining venues, couldn’t be reached for comment.

Fiorella’s Jack Stack traces its roots to Russ Fiorella, who founded Smokestack BBQ in 1957. The Smokestack menu had only five or six items.

His eldest son, Jack Fiorella, grew up in the business. In 1974, Jack Fiorella branched out with his own restaurant in south Kansas City and later changed the name to Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue of Martin City. Soon he had one of the most extensive barbecue menus in the country, including beef, pork and ham burnt ends, hickory-smoked pork spare and beef ribs, brisket, fresh seafood, lamb ribs, certified Angus beef steaks, and entree salads.

There are currently four Fiorella’s Jack Stack locations — on the Country Club Plaza, in the Freight House in the Crossroads Arts District, in south Kansas City, and in Overland Park.

To reach Joyce Smith, call 816-234-4692 or send email to jsmith@kcstar.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter at JoyceKC.